Photoshop 6 Basic Skills
Level 1
Course length: 1 day
Course
description
Overview: Students will
learn to modify and combine scanned photographs to create realistic composite
images using Photoshop.
Prerequisites: Before taking
this course, you should have a basic understanding of your computer’s operating
system. For
example, you should know how to launch an application, create and save files,
and copy files from CDs and other media. The 
Software Training courses Windows 98:
Introduction, Windows ME: Introduction and Windows
XP: Introduction teach these skills.
Delivery
method: Instructor-led, group-paced, classroom-delivery learning model with
structured hands-on activities.
Benefits: This is the
first of a two-part series. Students will learn to use several tools for
selecting parts of images, and will move, duplicate, and resize images.
Students will learn to use layers, and to apply layer effects and filters to
create special effects, including lighting and texture effects. Additionally,
students will use painting tools and blending modes to create shading effects,
and will perform adjustments to contrast and color balance. Students will save
images in formats for print and Web use.
Target
student: This course, Photoshop 6 Basic
Skills 1, was designed for the student who has little or no experience
using Adobe Photoshop, and who needs to learn the basics skills that are
necessary in order to begin to use this program effectively.
What's next: Photoshop 6 Basic Skills 1 is the first
course in this series, and is followed by Photoshop
6 Basic Skills 2.
Students who want to learn techniques for creating and optimizing graphics
for the Web should take the Software Training
course, Photoshop 6 Web Production. Students who
want to learn techniques for increasing their efficiency and create a variety
of interesting effects should take the Software Training
course Photoshop 6 Tips & Tricks. Students
who want to learn to use Photoshop’s color correction features and to prepare
images for print should take Photoshop
6 Color Correction & Printing.
Performance-based
objectives
Lesson objectives help students become comfortable with the course, and
also provide a means to evaluate learning. Upon successful completion of this
course, students will be able to:
- Select appropriate
resolutions for different image and output types.
- Resize and crop image
areas.
- Select image areas
using the Lasso, Marquee, and Magic Wand tools.
- Use alpha channels to
save and load selections.
- Create and manipulate
multiple layers to composite images easily.
- Apply blending and
shading effects to create realistic composites.
- Select colors using
the Color palette, Color Picker, and Eyedropper tool.
- Use Photoshop’s
painting tools to create artwork or to retouch photographs.
- Add and format text
within an image.
- Apply layer effects
and filters to create special effects including lighting effects and
textures.
- Modify the brightness,
contrast, color balance, hue, and saturation of images.
- Save images in file
formats for use with other applications and the Web.
Lesson 1:
Photoshop's Environment
Raster and Vector Graphics
Photoshop Environment Elements
Navigating in Photoshop
Lesson 2:
Sizing Images
Image Size and Resolution
Cropping
Lesson 3:
Selecting Image Areas
The Rectangular and Elliptical Marquee
Tools
The Lasso Tools
Saving Selections
The Magic Wand Tool
The Magnetic Lasso Tool
Modifying Selections
Lesson 4:
Layers
Floating Versus Fixed Selections
Undoing Previous Steps
Copying Selections
Creating Layers
Transforming Layers
Copying Layers between Images
Arranging Layers
Saving Images in Photoshop Format
Lesson 5:
Blending and Compositing
Defringing
Opacity and Blending Modes
Feathering Edges
Lesson 6:
Image Modes
Mode Characteristics
Grayscale and Bitmap Modes
Color Modes
Lesson 7:
Color and Painting
Selecting Colors
Painting Tools
The Clone Stamp Tool
Lesson 8:
Text, Layer Effects, and Filters
Type Layers
Layer Effects
Filters
Merging and Flattening Layers
Lesson 9:
Adjusting Images
Brightness/Contrast
Levels Adjustment Layers
Toning Tools
Hue/Saturation
Lesson 10:
Saving Completed Images
Saving for Use in Print Applications
Saving for the Web